Last week, Colorado-based non-profit Envirofit
introduced clean-burning biomass stoves in India, a project that will
attempt to reduce fuel consumption, toxic emissions, and offer a
sustainable business model to foster local enterprise. In an effort to
reduce indoor air pollution in developing nations, Envirofit teamed up
with the UK’s Shell Foundation
as a part of its Breathing Space program. The cook stoves will reduce
toxic emissions by 80%, use 50% less fuel, and reduce the cooking cycle
by 40%, according to the organization’s press release.

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Biomass typically consists of organic materials like wood, crop
waste, or animal dung, and for many households in places like India, is
the main source of fuel for activities like cooking. Developed at the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory at Colorado State University, the cook stoves were engineered to burn traditionally used biomass materials more efficiently.

Though the cook stoves have been initially launched in India,
Envirofit plans on expanding the project to Latin America, Africa, and
several other regions eventually. "There are an estimated 1.6 million
deaths per year due to toxic indoor air pollution (IAP). We are proud
to be partnered with Envirofit International to introduce clean-burning
wood stove technology in India while employing the first market-based
business model," said Ajit Abraham, a representative of Shell
Foundation in India.

The goal of this project is also to develop local and regional
enterprises by creating a network of dealers, distributors, and village
entrepreneurs at various levels.

"Although cooking habits in semi-urban and rural India are steeped
in tradition and perpetuated by myths, the response to our stoves has
been very strong as each stove has been developed based on extensive
market research and local customer insights," said Harish Anchan,
General Manager of Envirofit India Pvt Ltd. "We are in discussion with
financing institutions for low cost financing options to provide
additional options for families to buy the stoves." The stoves are
available in five models and will range roughly from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000
(approx $12-$50).

Envirofit first become known for their initiative to retrofit polluting two-stroke engines in Southeast Asia, as reported here on Treehugger.